Institute for Reproductive Health and The Christ Hospital; Lawsuit Filed By Ohio Family That Learned of Fertility Clinic Abuses From Christmas Gift Home-DNA Kits

MAJOR NEW FERTILITY CENTER LAWSUIT AGAINST CINCINNATI’S INSTITUTE FOR REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND THE CHRIST HOSPITAL UNDERSCORES “WILD WEST” NATURE OF UNREGULATED INDUSTRY WITH U.S. LAGGING FAR BEHIND MOST OTHER NATIONS

Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane: In a new lawsuit filed on August 7, 2019, Cincinnati’s Institute for Reproductive Health, the associated The Christ Hospital, and Ovation Fertility are accused of misconduct in the birth of a Columbus, Ohio, area woman who learned from a home DNA kit purchased as a Christmas gift that the man she thought was her biological father is not, and instead, may have been a doctor at The Christ Hospital.

Improperly fertilized embryos. The Cartellone family of Delaware, OH, is bringing a lawsuit against The Christ Hospital, Greater Cincinnati Institute for Reproductive Health, and Ovation Fertility Cincinnati. After recently purchasing Ancestry.com DNA kits for her family, 24-year-old Rebecca Cartellone learned that her father, Joseph, is not her biological father. Through independent research, the Cartellones believe that Rebecca’s biological father is likely one of a small handful of men— including a doctor at The Christ Hospital. In October 1993, the Cartellones sought IVF services at The Christ Hospital and the Greater Cincinnati Institute for Reproductive Health to use mother Jennifer’s egg and Joseph’s sperm to create embryos for transfer to Jennifer. In February 1994, Jennifer became pregnant with Rebecca. Additional paternity testing has confirmed that the sperm of a stranger, not Joseph’s sperm, was used to create the embryo that was transferred to Rebecca.

Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane is nationally recognized for representing victims of fertility clinic misconduct, including destruction or loss of eggs and embryos. If you or your family have been the victim of a reckless or negligent fertility clinic or fertility medical center, please Contact the Fertility Lawyers at Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane for a FREE Consultation by filling out our simple online Contact Form or by calling 415-766-3545.

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Joseph Peiffer, attorney and managing partner, Peiffer Wolf, said: “The case we are filing today illustrates the lack of regulation governing fertility clinics in the United States. It was only after purchasing Ancestry.com DNA kits for her family, that daughter Rebecca learned Joseph is not her biological father. This tragedy should never have happened. We will get justice for the Cartellones. But, only through further litigation and sensible regulation can such nonsense be stopped. We need accountability for big fertility.”

Joseph Cartellone, of Delaware, OH, said: “Never in my worst nightmare did I think that the Christmas gift of DNA testing for my family would unveil this kind of abuse of our trust by the very professionals from whom we sought help. This has been extremely difficult for my family. I want to do whatever it takes to make sure no one else has to go through what we did.”

Adam Wolf, attorney and partner, Peiffer Wolf, said: “My law firm has represented hundreds of families and individuals who have had their hopes and dreams dashed by outrageous conduct of the U.S. fertility industry. We think of fertility clinics as highly professional organizations governed by strict rules and staffed by caring experts. But, the truth is some of them are simply business people making billions of dollars in profits. We need to look to the U.K. and come up with a way of policing this industry here in the U.S., since it clearly is not capable of keeping its own house in order.”

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Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane is a national law firm with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York, Cleveland, St. Louis, Austin, and New Orleans. Peiffer Wolf is nationally recognized for representing victims in which fertility clinics were accused of misconduct, including destroying or losing eggs and embryos. This is a highly technical area of law and science; individuals seeking legal representation in such matters would be well advised to look to a law firm that has successfully handled such cases in the past. Contact Us by calling 415-766-3545 or by filling out an online Contact Form for a FREE Consultation.

VICTIM OF A RECKLESS OR NEGLIGENT FERTILITY CLINIC?

Peiffer Wolf Carr & Kane is a national law firm committed to representing families and victims of reckless IVF medical centers, negligent fertility clinics, fertility doctor misconduct, and many more types of IVF misconduct.

We represent the strongest and most amazing families in a number of fertility issues. Standing beside our clients, we’ve been able to provide a platform for other families to step forward and tell their stories. Moreover, we’ve been able to provide a pathway to recovery for their losses.